Sainsbury’s wind farm in West Lothian, Scotland has been completed – and the supermarket chain said it will now help fuel its renewable energy commitments.
The Longhill Burn will add 50 megawatts (MW) of electrical capacity to the grid in the form of renewable energy, which will be used to power Sainsbury’s stores, offices, and depots nationwide. The grocer views the construction as a major boost to its ambition to become net zero in its own operations by 2035.
When all the turbines are operating at maximum capacity, together they will provide enough electricity to supply up to 33% of Sainsbury’s total electricity needs, according to the retailer. Sainsbury’s has committed to buy 100% of the electricity produced by the wind farm – mounting up to millions of pounds of renewable energy investment over the next 15 years.
The Sainsbury’s wind farm has been under construction since 2021 when the retailer signed an agreement to buy all the electricity it generates with Capital Dynamics, a renewable energy investment management company.
At the site are eight wind turbines, designed and delivered by Siemens Gamesa. The blades measure 76 metres in length and the turbines stand at over 200 metres tall at their highest point, as measured from the base of the turbine to the tip of the blades.
Meanwhile, each turbine provides a maximum output of between 6-6.4MW, which Sainsbury’s said makes them the most powerful onshore wind turbines in the UK. Over the course of a full year, the site is expected to produce around 150,000 megawatt hours of electricity, which is enough to power over 2.8 million standard LED lightbulbs continuously.
Patrick Dunne, director of property, procurement & electric vehicle ventures at Sainsbury’s, said: “Now it’s completed, Longhill Burn Wind Farm can begin to realise its full potential, helping us take another massive step towards reducing our reliance on carbon.”
The latest Sainsbury’s wind farm project was developed in partnership with Energiekontor, which managed the construction of the site and will oversee its day-to-day performance and maintenance.
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[Image credits: Sainsbury’s]
